Skip to main content

How could a real-life person or a character be compared to Jay Gatsby?

A person who jumps to mind as sharing similarities with Jay Gatsby would be Donald Trump. Both are bigger-than-life figures about whom gossip swirls. Both like the grand gesture, the big house, the color gold. Both try to impress people with their wealth. Both have had colorful pasts (though Trump is not associated with criminal enterprises) and both see women as beautiful trophies they can acquire.


While Trump was born to wealth and Gatsby was...

A person who jumps to mind as sharing similarities with Jay Gatsby would be Donald Trump. Both are bigger-than-life figures about whom gossip swirls. Both like the grand gesture, the big house, the color gold. Both try to impress people with their wealth. Both have had colorful pasts (though Trump is not associated with criminal enterprises) and both see women as beautiful trophies they can acquire.


While Trump was born to wealth and Gatsby was not, Trump's jump into presidential politics can be seen as daring to aspire to a world to which he was not invited, just as Gatsby's acquisition of wealth was seen by people such as Tom Buchanan as an affront. Trump's rejection by old-line political families like the Bushes can be seen as similar to Gatsby's rejection by old-money, horsey people like Tom and the Sloanes. Both men, Gatsby and Trump, have dared to try to conquer new arenas, to be more than they were when they started out. Both are astonishingly ambitious. Both are seen by some as garish. Both are controversial figures.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more